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MASON COUNTY — West Virginia State Police say a 20-month old child died a “long agonizing death” as a result of alleged neglect at the hands of his parents.

Jimmy R. Edwards, 25, address unreported, and Carla M. Adkins, 31, of Ashton, have been arrested and charged with child neglect resulting in death. Edwards is reportedly from the Milton area of Mason County but was arrested Tuesday in Cabell County on the charge. Since the offense allegedly occurred in Mason County, both were arraigned in front of Mason County Magistrate Gail Roush, who set their bonds each at $500,000, cash only. As of Tuesday afternoon, the pair were being housed in the Western Regional Jail.

According to the official criminal complaints filed in magistrate court, Edwards and Adkins are accused of neglecting their son Carson Edwards, who died in March 2013. It was determined that Carson died from profound anemia due to cows milk ingestion and lack of medical care, according to the complaint.

State police say Edwards and Adkins obtained welfare WIC benefits and purchased baby formula with those benefits. Edwards is then accused of taking the formula back to the store and allegedly returning it for cash. The cash would then be used for the purchase of drugs, primarily methamphetamine, according to the complaint. This behavior reportedly began when the infant was only a few months old.

In the complaint, Adkins states Edwards would not allow her to take the child to doctor visits because Edwards felt the child belonged to Adkins’ ex-husband. State police note in the complaint that the 4-year old daughter whom Edwards knew to be his child made every wellness doctor visit as directed by physicians.

According to his obituary, Carson Ray Edwards passed away March 15, 2013. He was born July 8, 2011, in Huntington.

Those convicted of child neglect resulting in death could face three to 15 years in jail, fined between $1,000 to $5,000, or both the fined and jailed.

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